Rishabh Pant earns maiden call-up to Indian Test team

Jasprit Bumrah, who was unfit for the ODI series that India lost 2-1, will be available for selection from the second Test onwards. According to BCCI communique, he aggravated lower back condition during the match, and his condition is being assessed now. All of that meant that there are some new names in the 18-man squad for the first three Tests.

Though skipper Virat Kohli had hinted a possible change in the spin department, the selectors have acted on expected lines by picking Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, who produced some outstanding spells in the preceding T20 and ODI series against England. What will work in his favour is his experience of playing county cricket, though the lack of runs may have affected his confidence. Shardul Thakur has also been kept in the 18 as back-up for the pace quartet of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and the injured Bumrah.

Karun Nair, who is captaining the India A which is playing in United Kingdom now, has trumped Rohit Sharma and might be the reserve batsman in the squad. The other four Tests will be played at Lord's, Trent Bridge, The Rose Bowl and Kennington Oval respectively.

The squad named is Kohli (Captain), Dhawan, Rahul, Vijay, Pujara, Rahane (vice-captain), Nair, Karthik (wicket-keeper), Pant (wicket-keeper), Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Hardik, Ishant, Shami, Umesh, Bumrah, Thakur. The selection committee also announced the Board President's XI squad to take on South Africa A in a three-day warm-up game in Belgaum from July 30.